The German government has blamed Russian intelligence services for an attempted drone attack at Leipzig/Halle airport in early August. Investigators believe an explosives-laden drone, discovered on the night of August 4-5, was deliberately targeting a Ukrainian cargo aircraft. The device was successfully defused.
The airport is used to ship military equipment to Ukraine. While Germany has reported suspicious drone sightings over military and industrial sites for months, this incident raised alarms because the drone carried explosives. The interior minister stated that the event corresponds with a known pattern of Russian hybrid operations.
These findings arrive as European countries report an increase in sabotage attacks and attempts attributed to Russia. In a rare move, Berlin has announced retaliatory measures in response to the incident, including the closure of a Russian cultural center in Berlin. Russia did not immediately comment.